March 25, 2019
Roald Dahl books
Life & Times @ Learning Tots Academy
View from the front

Dear LTA Families,

We hope that everyone has a wonderful weekend and enjoyed the nice weather as it begins to heat up!
Last week we explored the worlds of Bill Martin Jr. and Ezra Keats. This week we will wrap up our author month with Roald Dahl.  Dahl was hired to adapt two of Ian Fleming’s novels, the James Bond novel You Only Live Once and the kid-friendly Chitty Chitty Bang Bang; both scripts were completely rewritten. Dahl was also hired to adapt Charlie and the Chocolate Factory for the big screen, but was replaced by David Seltzer when he couldn’t make his deadlines. Dahl was not shy about his criticisms of the finished product, noting his “disappointment” that the film (and its changed title) shifted the story’s emphasis from Charlie to Willy Wonka.

“Today a reader, tomorrow a Leader!”

Let’s make it a great week!!
Announcements
Staff news
Please welcome Ms. Maria Bessie to our team. She will be the new Assistant teacher for PreSchool class. She has 20 Early Childhood credits and has worked in childcare for 6 years. You will see her floating this month and next so she works with all classes before her regular class.

Ms. Shakia is moving to PreK-1 and Ms. Donna will work with the school-age class.

Graduation
PreK-2 will graduate on June 21, 2019. Details will follow. The ceremony begins at 10 AM and end at 12 Noon.

Week of the Young Child
Week of the young child is April 8th to 12th. We have different themes each day and we will celebrate children every day with tons of fun activities.

Correction
Please note that October 14 will be the Teacher workday and not October 7 as it appeared in the earlier calendar. It was a wrong date on the holiday calendar for 2019.
Memories of the week
Preschool: Which Eric Carle book did you like?
“Have You Seen My Cat?” ~ Rowan
“Does a Kangaroo Have a Mother Too?” ~ Jojo
“The Very Hungry Caterpillar” ~ Hunter
“Does a Kangaroo Have a Mother Too?” ~ Dymeana
“The Very Hungry Caterpillar” ~ Advy
“Have You Seen My Cat” ~ Noah
“The Very Hungry Caterpillar” ~ Brody

PreK-1: Which Ezra Keats book did you like best?
“The Goggles because they found motorcycle goggles” ~ Reilly
“Hi Cat” ~ Ayla
“Snowy Day because the snow was falling from the sky” ~ Cole
“Snowy Day because the snow falls on his head” ~ Milton
“The Goggles because they went to go hide” ~ Jaxen
“The Goggles” ~ Abigail
“The Snowy Day because the snow fell on his head” ~ Evelyn
“Snowy Day because I like snow” ~ Dasha
“Snowy Day because he made friends with the big kids” ~ Sydney
“Snowy Day because I like the part where he played with big kids” ~ Harper
“Goggles book” ~ Manona
“Peter’s Chais because he sat in a chair too small” ~ Edwin
“Goggles because Peter hid out” ~ Dominic
“The Snowy Day because he played in snow” ~ Morgan
“Snowy Day because he made snow angels” ~ Leo
“Snowy Day because he made footprints in the snow” ~ Eleanor

PreK-2: Which one is your favorite Ezra Jack Keats book and why?
"Goggles - because he finds the googles and the bullies try to catch him but they can't" ~ Phillip
"Whistle for Willie - because he learns" ~ Luke M
"The Snowy Day - because I like when he wakes up to the snow" ~ Nolan
"Whistle for Willie - because he tried on his Dad's hat" ~ Leilani
"I like Peter's Chair because they painted the chair pink" ~ Drishti
"Goggles because the boys were trying to get them and couldn't" ~ Bruce
"A Letter for Amy - because he invited her to the birthday party" ~ Mia
"The Snowy Day - because I like snow" ~ Addie
"Goggles - because I like to wear mine" ~ Maggy
"Peter's Chair - because he let his Dad paint his chair pink - and also Pet Show" ~ Emma
"Louie's Search - because the music box was broken and he fixed it up" ~ Teagan
"A Letter for Amy - because I like birthday parties" ~ Yaneli
"Louie's Search - because he was look for a Dad" ~ RJ
"Apt 3 - because the apartment was really quiet" ~ Luke T
"Pet Show - because Archie got the last medal" ~ Eleanor
"Pet Show - because they were all chasing each other in a line" ~ George
Up against the wall
Pushing the wall
What would you like to listen to today
So, what would you like to listen to?
Stories in pictures
Stories in pictures
I am all done with my blocks
I am done with my block assignment
Get your had stamped
Get your hand stamped
Building blocks
Building blocks
Celebrations of the week
Birthdays
Jaxen , PreK-1: 3/30
Anniversaries
Ms. Angelica , Waddler-2: 3/27, 1 year
Program notes
Spanish with Ms. Angélica
Note: Mrs Angelica was sick last week and so we did not have Spanish and sign language class. We wish her a speedy recovery and will resume these classes on her return.
Spanish star of the week
Spanish star of the week Toby
Toby remains this week's Spanish & sign language star
Durham county library bookmobile
Durham library visits us on the last Monday of every month. It will next come on March 25th.

Kidokinetics Sports and PE Program 
Designed as a comprehensive physical education program for preschoolers, Kidokinetics follows standards set forth by the National Association for Physical Education (NASPE). We are at LTA every Tuesdays taking all age groups 18 months and older. Each week we play a different sport.

Tumblin' Tots
Tumbling is on Mondays so please make sure your child gets at school by 9AM.
Soccer Shots with Coach Cassidy
Soccer Shots is an engaging children’s soccer program with a focus on character development. Our coaches are the best-trained in the business. Our expert-approved curriculum is age-appropriate and aligns with childhood education standards.
Soccer Shots player of the week
Player of the week Teagan
Teagan has been doing an awesome job. She is kind and encourages all of her friends every week. Way to go!
Kidstunes with Ms Sarah
Dear Kidstunes Families,
This week we continued refining our listening skills through several fun activities as we learn about timbre (tone color).

For a fun twist, we listened to an upbeat country song, shaking our egg shakers and stopping when the music stopped. This was a super fun warm-up to get our listening ears ready for the lesson.

We also enjoyed the listening game “Noises in my home.” This is a great aural game, listening to different noises such as lawn mowers, vacuum cleaners, and evening snoring! We practiced matching the picture to the sound, reinforcing the concept that many different objects create different timbre or tone color.

Next, we played a listening game in which we listened to different samples of voices, and practiced identifying who was speaking or singing (a mommy, a child, a daddy, and even a pet).

We also played “Somebody’s Knocking at my Door” again, because it’s a great review of steady beat and the children really love this song!

For our Masterworks piece, we listened to “Spring” by Vivaldi. This song is in the rondo form, meaning it follows the pattern ABACADAEAF. Infants bounced their scarves, explored motor skills and experienced steady beat with this piece. Preschool-age children participated in mostly child-led imaginative play to this song, pretending we were going on a spring walk and finding different animals, flowers, and babbling brooks!
~Sincerely, Ms. Sarah
Doctor tip of the week

First-Aid Essentials

Pack your mobile first-aid kit with tweezers, gloves, and these other things to handle injuries when you're out of the house.

Tweezers are an essential part of any first aid kit, particularly if you enjoy hiking or other outdoor activities. The safest way to remove a splinter or a tick is with a clean pair of tweezers.

Parent tip of the week

Better Ways to Unwind With Your Kids

You can teach your children that relaxing in the right ways -- like taking a walk in nature or drawing together -- not only feels good, but can also help make them healthier.

When we’re stressed, we’re more likely to make unhealthy choices, like picking junk food or deciding to veg instead of being physically active. Unwinding helps us clear our minds and gives us the energy and focus to make good choices.

Looking ahead
Week of the Young Child is April 8th to 12th. We will celebrate children all week with a different theme, Friday April 12th being popsicles, shades and bubbles day. More details soon.

Easter egg hunt is the week of 4/15, please check with your teachers if they need fillers and eggs. Please note all candy is peanut free and individually wrapped.
Menu for the week

  • Monday
  • Breakfast: Whole grain bagel with cream cheese, oranges and milk
  • Lunch: Turkey meatballs in barbeque sauce (veg sub: soy meatballs), rice, peas, sliced apples, and milk
  • Snack: Graham crackers, string cheese
  • Tuesday
  • Breakfast: Buttered toast, applesauce, and milk
  • Lunch: Whole grain cheese pizza, broccoli, mixed fruit with strawberries, peaches, mandarin oranges, and milk
  • Snack: Mini corn muffin, and 100% grape juice blend
  • Wednesday
  • Breakfast: Whole grain English muffin, jelly, pineapple, and milk
  • Lunch: HM Mac and cheese, lima-beans, pears, and milk
  • Snack: Cheez-Its and fruit yogurt
  • Thursday
  • Breakfast: Whole grain apple cinnamon toasted oats cereal, bananas, and milk
  • Lunch: Chicken patty (veg sub - garden burger with soy), wheat bread, corn, oranges, and milk
  • Snack: Wheat crackers, Nut free soy butter
  • Friday
  • Breakfast: Whole grain pancakes, syrup, applesauce, and milk
  • Lunch: Grilled cheese sandwich, vegetable soup with corn, peas, broccoli, tomato, lima beans, and noodles, pineapples, and milk
  • Snack: Goldfish crackers and 100% apple juice blend
 
(Cycle 1)
Links, policies, and review


Important Links

Attendance & Late Pickup 
Please make sure that your children are here by 9:00 AM so they can participate fully in class activities. Please pickup your kids by 6:00 PM at the latest otherwise there will be a late fee of $2 per minute that should be payable to the teacher who is present.
 
Tuition Policy
Remember that monthly tuition is due by the 5th of this month. If paying bi-monthly, then please pay by the 5th and the 15th. If paying weekly, please pay every Monday. This helps us run the center smoothly.
 
Parent Handbook
The Parent Handbook  is revised and now available on our website. We have some printed copies available at the front if you'd like a hard copy instead.   
 
Referral Bonus
Please do not forget to refer us to your friends, family, and neighbors. You will qualify for the bonus even if you refer someone to our sister school - LTA, Apex. The bonus amounts are $400 for a full-time referral, and $200 for a part-time one. If you would like to pick up some of our handy brochures, some are available at the front. Thank you so much in advance.

Review LTA! 
While we really appreciate hearing kind words from you, we would love it if you would also let the world know. For your convenience we suggest a few places below. And Thank You very much in advance!
Learning Tots Academy | 919-544-2815 | www.learningtotsacademy.com